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Bible Study – Descendants of Ishmael

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Genesis 25:12-18

12 Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

15 Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

17 And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

It is generally acknowledged that modern day Arabs are descended from Ishmael.  This understanding comes from the Bible itself, Jewish Rabbis, and from a meager oral tradition.  Mohammed claimed this descent himself, though it is truly impossible to determine his actual pedigree, due to the fact  of the wandering and unsettled nature of the Ishmaelite tribes.  There is no known literature to support any genealogy, outside of the Holy Bible.  The Ishmaelites are mentioned on only three occasions in Scripture: Genesis 37: 25, 27, 29; 39:1, Judges 8:24, and Psalm 83:6.

Most Arabs believe that as the first born of Abraham, Ishmael was offered on the altar, not Issac, and therefore the Biblical Covenants and blessings belong to them, and not the Jews.  However, many nomadic Arabs, still hold to the early pagan traditions from long ago – believing in a law of blood-revenge which requires a man to know his ancestors going back for four generations, but no father back than that.  The physical attributes, language, customs and traditions (pre-Mohammed corruption) along with the infallible testimony of the Holy Bible, makes the Arab nations, largely Ishmaelite in all respects.

Psalm 83 

83 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.

17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth

Bible Study – Abraham and Abimelech

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Our last study finished the extraordinary story of Lot. A couple of observations need reemphasizing.

  1. Lot was a carnal believer, with his focus on the world, rather than the spiritual, he was saved – but only just!
  2. Lot was “unequally yoked.” His wife was not a believer. Her judgement demonstrated what will happen to all those who have had ample opportunity to be saved, but still choose the world.
  3. Lot’s life ends in disgrace. His sons, conceived through drunken incest,  become the enemies of Israel, and ultimately – Christians.
  4. Lot – as the carnal believer – teaches us that if we, as believers, live our lives to please ourselves, and do not judge ourselves, He will judge us while we are yet living on this earth. The following verses cover the carnal believer –

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11: 31-32

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3: 15

We now enter another bizarre incidence of Sarah being kidnapped! Although Abraham was centered in Hebron, he often moved around seeking pasture for his flocks. He winds up in Gerar, a Philistine city, about 40 miles west of Hebron.

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1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

Abimelech means “my father is king.” It is a title, rather than a name, as Pharaoh was. “Father” of his people.

Once again, Abraham presents Sarah as his sister, another weakness of Abraham’s. The same deception he used with Pharaoh, the same equivocation. He revealed only half the truth, while some would argue that it is not an out and out lie – it is really no better. It is a spiritual relapse.

abraham-restores-sarah

Sarah is taken, by force, again! She is 90 years old! The Babylonian Talmud and other occult books assert that she was a “seer,” and highly sought after by powerful men. That is a ridiculous notion. If Sarah could see the future – why on earth did she give her handmaid Hagar to her husband? She would have been able to see what terrible trouble that caused! It stands to reason that there was something unusual about her, perhaps her coloring, that made her so attractive. Blue eyes? Possibly.

3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, 

Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, 

Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

Abimelech fears for all his family, and all of his people after what had famously happened at Sodom.

GOD GIVES ABIMELECH A CHOICE.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, 

Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against Me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

This is an amazing exchange between the Lord and Abimelech. The Lord knows that Abimelech had honorable intentions towards Sarah, but if he refuses to return her, he and everyone connected to him will die.

abimelech-returns-sarah

8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11 And Abraham said, 

Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

Consider that Abraham is thinking of Sarah’s safety. From the time they left Ur of the Charldees, she had presented herself as his sister, (half true) per his request. A beautiful married woman, could have found herself savagely raped and a widow all at the same time. A woman without protection had very little chance. If she were believed to be a virtuous maiden, it would be less likely that either of them would be harmed in that culture.

Abraham’s perception of the general depravity of the Canaanites is what leads him to deceive Abimelech, who in turn wants to know what Abraham saw in his people that caused him to do this thing. It was also judged to be lawful at that time to marry sisters on the father’s side, but not on the mother’s. Abimelech next returns Sarah, but rebukes her, along with many gifts to Abraham.

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14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

  • Abimelech gives Abraham even more than Pharaoh did.
  • He also beseeches Abraham to stay wherever he desires within his lands as opposed to Pharaoh who begged him to leave.
  • Abimelech publicly states that Sarah is married, and that she is under the covering of her husband. We can extract from this that Sarah went about unveiled to further the deception that she was Abraham’s sister. All married women were veiled in this era.
  • Sarah was redeemed from Abimelech before he touched her, thereby preventing any possible claims of anyone other than 100 year old Abraham as the father of the nation of Israel. Abimelech’s public pronouncement was the last thing required before the son of promise was conceived.
  • In return for this, Abraham prayed for Abimelech.

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife. Genesis 20 1-18

Abraham is an Old Testament type of Christ, who redeemed his bride-sister from the pagan king. Jesus is the Christ, who redeems His bride-sister-brother-mother. . .from the pagan, anti-Christ world.

46 While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.

47 Then one said unto Him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?

49 And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren!

 50 For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 12: 46-50

Bible Study – Abraham’s Greatest Test of Faith

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God never tempts anyone to sin (that is the province of Satan) but He does test  the faithful.  After all that has gone before –  Abraham leaving Ur of the Chaldees, and journeying to the Promised Land in faith, the Covenant,  and the extraordinary birth of the son of promise – Isaac –  when Abraham was 100 years old. 

It was now time for Abraham to be tested – the ultimate test – to prove Abraham – and to portend the future.  We must always hold God first in our lives.  Please consider that since the LORD is omniscient – He already knows the outcome of this test! 

Isaac carries the wood

GENESIS 22:1-14

22 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2 And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

HERE IS THE TEST – DID ABRAHAM LOVE HIS SON MORE THAN HE LOVED GOD? ON “ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS” TELLS US THAT GOD HAD A PARTICULAR PLACE AND A PARTICULAR MOUNTAIN – MOUNT MORIAH!  THE SAME PLACE WHERE SOLOMON’S TEMPLE WOULD LATER BE BUILT AND THE SAME PLACE WHERE JESUS WOULD OFFER HIMSELF AS THE LAMB OF GOD!!!!!

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, 

Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

the sacrifice

11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 

12 And He said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

JEHOVAHJIREH = THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

BOTH ABRAHAM AND GOD THE FATHER OFFER SONS ON ALTARS – THIS IS KNOWN AS BIBLICAL TYPOLOGY

  • Isaac carried his own wood/Jesus carried His own cross
  • God provided the lamb/Lamb
  • Isaac was held by ropes/Jesus was held by iron nails
  • Isaac gave no resistance/ Jesus gave no resistance
  • Abraham’s son was spared/ God spared not His own Son
  • In the mount of the Lord/ Christ died on Mt Calvary
  • Ram caught in thorns was offered/ Christ was crowned with thorns
  • Isaac was heir to everything  Abraham had /Jesus Christ is the heir to everything  of God the Father’s – all power, all wealth, all glory, all kingdoms, the universe, all praise, all honor, all eternity, all judgment, all righteousness, all truth, all Lordship, all love, all mercy, all grace.

MORE SONGS AND WORDS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT CALVARY THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH!

Please consider the Lord’s omniscience – in knowing what Abraham would do – but Abraham himself, did not know what he would do!  These are the deep things of God, beloveds.

Bible Study – The Abrahamic Covenant Confirmed

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In last week’s study, Abraham had passed the ultimate test – by willingly not withholding his son Issac from the Lord, he had demonstrated the greatest faith yet.  When Abraham gave his son to God – he gained back his son.  When we give ourselves and our possessions to God, we gain far more than we give – BUT – if we refuse to give ourselves and possessions to God – we will eventually lose everything.  And everything means EVERYTHING!

Abraham passed his greatest test of faith, and because of this – God repeated to him, the Covenant promised to him, and his seed. 

Genesis 22:15-19

abraham

15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, 

By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.  

beersheba

19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

The next verses, which cover the family tree of Abraham’s brother Nahor, are only significant, in the revealing of the source of Issac’s bride. 

Nahor's familly tree

Genesis 22:20-24

20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 

 [please note that these sons are the source of the tribes named in the Book of Job]

22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

Often believers will brush over passages like this in the Old Testament, thinking they are of less significance than the dramatic events of last week’s study.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In understanding the significance of God renewing the Covenant a second time – we see that He is not forgetful, and is the perfection of steadfastness, and the extreme importance of this Covenant which was sealed in blood.   By the recording of even Abram’s brother’s family tree, we have the situation laid out so simply, that even a child’s persistent “why” and “where” questions can be answered. 

Next week – the Gentile Bride is chosen!

Bible Study – Death and Burial of Sarah

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Abraham said of his wife,

“I know [Sarah] that thou art a fair woman to look upon” – Gen. 12:11.

She was a beautiful woman, whose beauty was more than fair looks.  She was adorned with the…

“ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” – 1 Pet. 3:4

Sarah was God’s example of a submissive wife.

“Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.”  

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Genesis 23 (Approximately 1860 B.C.)

23 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Though Abraham was wealthy, and owned rich herds of flocks, and servants, he owned no property in Canaan.  When Sarah died at age 127, Abraham sought to buy the cave of Machpelah for 400 shekels of silver – rather that receive it as a gift from heathen neighbors.

3 And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,

4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.

8 And he communed with them, saying,

If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.

12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying,

But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.

16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

17 And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 

18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.

20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

This was the only property Abraham owned in Canaan.  The cave in the field of Machpelah in Hebron, later became the family burial place of the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Bible Study – Death and Burial of Abraham

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Genesis 25:7-11

7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Please note that Abraham, God’s faithful friend, was not taken to heaven!  He “was gathered to his people.”  The faithful were  not able to access heaven until Jesus Christ, Abraham’s penultimate descendant,  was sacrificed  and rose from the dead.   All believers were assigned to a division of hell, known as “Abraham’s bosom,” where it can be determined, they received comfort from Abraham himself. . . but. . .were not in torment!

Luke 16:21-23

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Many, many believers labor under the unscriptural belief, that the saints of the Old Testament went to heaven based on the Law and faith.  This simply is not found anywhere in the Bible.  There is only one way, and it has always been the only way, from before the dawn of time.  Please see this study on the two Gospel quandary.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Pro-Palestinians and Islamist’s should note – that this land was purchased by Abraham to bury Sarah – not Hagar!

When Abraham gave his son to God, Abraham gained back his son.  God does not require anything nearly so dramatic from believers today.  But, it is true without doubt, that when we give of ourselves to God, we gain far, far more than we ever gave.  If we do not grow in faith and continue in infantile Christianity, we will eventually lose a great deal, because as baby Christians, the tendency is towards selfishness and far too much introspection – AKA – naval gazing!

We see in the following verse, God’s continuing plan for the Salvation of mankind.  Though Ishmael was the first born, and natural heir,  The Lord knew these men before they were even conceived.  He chose the second born – Isaac – for His purposes, just as we choose Him, over our own natural man – who is our first born man.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary

I.e., “the well of Him that liveth and seeth me,” or, as some render it, “the well of the vision of life”, the well where the Lord met with Hagar (Genesis 16:7-14). Isaac dwelt beside this well (24:62; 25:11). It has been identified with `Ain Muweileh, or Moilahhi, south-west of Beersheba, and about 12 miles W. from Kadesh-barnea.

Bible Study – Abraham’s Sons by Keturah

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Abraham’s beloved wife Sarah has died, Issac has taken Rebekah as his wife, and now – Abraham the widower – takes a second wife.  The significance of this union, is not important until we take into consideration Israel’s past and present enemies.  The offspring of Keturah and Abraham feature heavily in wars and prophecies as Israel conquers the Promised Land. 

Genesis 25:1-4

25 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

Abraham sons with Keturah
Map of Keturah's sons

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.  3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. As illustrated on the map – the sons of Keturah and Abraham essentially surround the Promised Land.  In a previous study, we observed the sons of Abraham and Hagar through Ishmael surrounding the Promised Land on the eastern and southern border.  The pivotal verse of chapter 25 of Genesis follows:

Genesis 25:5

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

promised land

This is it – the entire borders of the land promised to Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob,  by God.  This was ALL that Abraham had, given  to him through blood contract.  The other progeny of Abraham have no rights, or claim to any portion of this land – whatsoever. The insensible hatred the world has for the Jewish nation is demonic, it is nothing new, and has been ongoing from the beginning.  When faced with these same tribes during the rebuilding of the Temple, the prophet Nehemiah stated flatly. . .

Nehemiah 2:19-20

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Genesis 25:6

 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

https://web.archive.org/web/20151017155919if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/0B5hKbDdkU4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparentFormer “Palestinian terrorist” Walid Shoebat, has stated that his family were Greek in origin!  So, as we see, it is not only Arabs and Egyptians claiming the Promised Land – but the tribe of Japheth as well.  This can be clearly seen through the “British Israel”  and the Mormon’s “American Israel”  false/cultic  religions.  The Vatican is continuously conniving to control portions of the Promised Land.  And now Hamas, is clamoring for Gaza to be rebuilt – or else! 

Bible Study – Isaac Gets a Bride – Part 1

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Abraham has buried his beloved wife, Sarah, in the cave of Macpelah – which later became the family burial place for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Not Ishmael and Esau!!!

Genesis 24  And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Here the very aged Abraham, is adjuring his most trusted servant, to journey to the land of his birth, to find a bride for the son of promise.  His instruction to place the hand under his thigh, is deep in covenant meaning.  The thigh area is generalized in the Old Testament to mean the area of sexual reproduction, also playing significantly into the symbol of circumcision.  It refers to the importance of the son of promise and his progeny – from which the Messiah would come.

Abraham also, in choosing the Gentile bride for Isaac portrays our heavenly Father choosing  a Gentile Bride – the church – for His Son – the Christ.     If Abraham had chosen a Canaanite bride for Isaac, imagine how differently things would have happened!

4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

This is a strong caution to the unnamed servant!

7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

The son of promise, Isaac, is not to be brought to that land under any circumstances!

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Remember – the hand under the thigh refers to the blessed progeny of Abraham, through his covenant with God!

THE UNNAMED SERVANT IS THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTER OF GENESIS 24 –

Luke 16:10

 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Why is the servant nameless?  Because God chose for him to be nameless.  A faithful servant never cares about promoting himself, his interest is solely in serving his master.  The Holy Spirit never promotes Himself, but always exalts the Son of God.

10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

This is very significant.  The unnamed servant does not rely on his own perspicacity to find a bride for his master’s son.  He relies on the God of heaven to do it all!

13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

The unnamed servant states right here that if God is providing the bride, that God is showing kindness to Abraham – not the servant himself!

THE SERVANT (THE HOLY SPIRIT) SEEKS THOSE WILLING TO BELIEVE HIS MESSAGE (THE GOSPEL) EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BRIDEGROOM (CHRIST).

Bible Study – Sarai and Hagar

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We will now see the fruit of Abram’s Sojourn in Egypt. Recall that it was a crisis in Abram’s faith that lead him to run to Egypt during a period of famine. Rather than fully trusting God’s promise – he went to Egypt, which represents the flesh. Even so, he came out of Egypt more full than when he arrived, which is testimony to God’s faithfulness, even in our time of weakness. But, Abram came out of Egypt with more than goods, he also brought home a slave girl named Hagar.

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Abram is now 85 years old, and he had arrived in Canaan 10 years previously. In our last devotional, Abram had suggested to God that perhaps he could obtain an heir though his servant – Eliezer. God said no. So what just happened in verse two? Abram did not consult the Lord – Abram heeded his wife. Many wives give very wise counsel; but in this case, Sarai’s manipulation was in direct opposition to God’s promise.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Hagar conceives easily, and consequently feels superior to her mistress, Sarai. Now feeling the pain of her foolish and impulsive decision, Sarai complains to her husband, who then gives her permission to do whatever she wants to her maidservant. After harsh treatment – pregnant Hagar runs away.

7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

The Lord does not want us to run away from our problems.

10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Here, Hagar is given the prophecy of the descendants of Ishmael her son, who will become some of the very same people in conflict with Israel today.

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Thou God seest me – for the first time, God is called “El Roi,” the God who sees.

14 Wherefore the well was called Beer–lahai–roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 16: 1-16

  • Again and again, the failure to trust in God’s solemn promises reap terrible consequences.
  • Ishmael is foreseen to be a “wild man,” and his hand is against everyone, meaning innate violence
  • Sarai tries to anticipate God – as if He needs help!
  • Abram gives his wife’s desires precedence over his covenant with God.

To this very day – almost 4,000 years later, the entire world is reaping the repercussions of this tragic episode.